Stegodon

This is a full sized cast replica skeleton of the prehistoric Stegodon.

Stegodon is a genus of the extinct subfamily Stegodontinae of the order Proboscidea. Stegodonts were present from 11.6 mya to late Pleistocene, with unconfirmed records of regional survival until 4,100 years ago. Stegodon’s direct ancestors lived before Asian elephants, African elephants, and mammoths separated on the evolutionary chart. Stegodon is considered to be a sister group of the mammoth, as well as the elephants.

Fossils found show that they lived in large parts of Asia, East and Central Africa during the Pleistocene. Stegodont molars consist of a series of low, roof-shaped ridges, whereas in elephants each ridge has become a high-crowned plate. Furthermore, stegodont skeletons are more robust and compact than those of elephants.

Some Stegodon species were among the largest of all, with adults being 13 feet high at the shoulder, 26 feet long, not including 10 feet long nearly straight tusks. One of the largest proboscideans, Stegodon could have weighed up to 14 tons!